Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Mighty Matildas - brief update
Although I'm looking forward to seeing Alfio Basile's fluent Argentina side in action tonight, it's a little difficult to get excited about the Socceroo angle, given that Graham Arnold's squad is an enforced hodge-podge, with most of the promising younger players off with the Olyroos.
A match of rather more import is occurring tomorrow evening, with the Matildas playing their opening game in the Women's World Cup, against Ghana in the picturesque lakeside city of Hangzhou.
The Matildas' semi-final win over Japan in the Asian qualifiers, which ensured their participation in the main event, did not attract much notice at the time; a pity, since the first successful Asian qualifying campaign for a World Cup by a senior Australian football side surely represented a milestone of sorts.
Australia has qualified for the event before, of course, but has failed to progress past the first round in previous instalments. With their Asian experience - and two heartening lead-up wins over China - behind them, Tom Sermanni's troops must fancy their chances to do better in this tournament. The key game will probably be their final group match with Canada, in Chengdu next week.
Best of luck to the team, and a vote of thanks to SBS for allowing Australian viewers to watch the Matildas in action at the World Cup.
A match of rather more import is occurring tomorrow evening, with the Matildas playing their opening game in the Women's World Cup, against Ghana in the picturesque lakeside city of Hangzhou.
The Matildas' semi-final win over Japan in the Asian qualifiers, which ensured their participation in the main event, did not attract much notice at the time; a pity, since the first successful Asian qualifying campaign for a World Cup by a senior Australian football side surely represented a milestone of sorts.
Australia has qualified for the event before, of course, but has failed to progress past the first round in previous instalments. With their Asian experience - and two heartening lead-up wins over China - behind them, Tom Sermanni's troops must fancy their chances to do better in this tournament. The key game will probably be their final group match with Canada, in Chengdu next week.
Best of luck to the team, and a vote of thanks to SBS for allowing Australian viewers to watch the Matildas in action at the World Cup.
Comments:
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First of our national teams that regularly qualified for a world championship directly through Oceania to go to a world championship from a proper, match-hardening qualifying system.
Going to be very interesting.
Going to be very interesting.
# posted by 
: September 11, 2007 at 6:25 PM
: September 11, 2007 at 6:25 PM
Did you catch any of the opening game? Some hilarious attempts at 'goalkeeping' by the Argie 'keeper.
# posted by : September 11, 2007 at 7:57 PM
: September 11, 2007 at 7:57 PM
Indeed, best of luck to the girls...pity it clashes with the Olyroos (boy have we been spoilt), but given I'll be providing live analysis from Gosford, will make sure I tape the girls and catch it later...
Good start for or beijing nemisis, DPR Korea, who drew 2-2 with the States.
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Good start for or beijing nemisis, DPR Korea, who drew 2-2 with the States.
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